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University of Alabama Chooses New President

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Al.com reports that the University of Alabama Board of Trustees earlier today voted unanimously to appoint Judy Bonner, the University of Alabama provost and executive vice president, as the Tuscaloosa campus' next president.
Bonner is the first woman to lead the university in the school's 181-year history.

Today's vote came after Guy Bailey yesterday resigned from the president's position after less than two months in office. A statement released by the university cited his wife's health in the decision. It doesn't disclose what sort of health problems she's experiencing, but a university spokeswoman says Bailey's wife was critically ill over the summer. A story published four years ago by a Texas newspaper described Bailey's wife as a two-time cancer survivor.

Bailey left the presidency at Texas Tech University to take the UA job, which has a salary and incentives package worth as much as $652,000 annually.